20 Western teams to face 13 from Asia

20 Western teams to face 13 from Asia

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Twenty teams from Europe and the Americas
have confirmed their entries in the Nations Cup at Royal Selangor
Golf Club here next week, the Asian PGA announced Wednesday.

They will face 13 nations from Asia from Sept. 27 to 30 for
six prized spots in the EMC World Cup in Japan in November.

The Nations Cup is the sole qualifying tournament for the
World Cup this year after the International Federation of PGA
Tours decided to combine the Nations Cup and Asian Nations Cup
into one event.

German pair Alex Cejka and Thomas Gogele, who teamed up to
finish seventh in the World Cup last year, and Italy's Costantino
Rocca and Emanuele Canonica will provide European star appeal.

The 44-year-old Rocca, a six-time winner on the European Tour,
will be aiming to qualify for his 11th World Cup appearance with
a partner who has won the driving distance category on the
European Tour for the past three seasons.

Colombia, who won last year's Nations Cup in Jamaica, have
retained half of their winning combination, with Jesus Amaya
finding a new partner in Angel Romero.

The Nations Cup will see fourball better ball being played on
the first and third days and foursomes on the second and final
days. The same format is played in the World Cup to be staged at
The Taiheiyo Club in Japan from Nov. 15 to 18.